“But Maria, mother,” replied the generous young man; “Maria—” and he looked imploringly and affectionately into her face.
“Maria will have an ample portion; I have taken care of that. I will not leave my property to those who are strangers to my blood, as a son-in-law must be. No, Charles, you shall have my property. As for Harry, as I said before, he won't stand in need of it.”
“Of course you saw Miss Riddle to-day, mother?” asked. Harry.
“I did.”
“Of course, too, you mentioned the matter to her?”
“To be sure I did.”
“And what did she say?”
“Why, I think she acted just as every delicate-minded girl ought. I told her you would have the honor of proposing to herself in person. She heard me, and did not utter a syllable either for or against you. What else should any lady do? You would not have her jump at you, would you? Nothing, however, could be kinder or more gracious than the reception she gave me.”
“Certainly not, mother; to give her consent before she was solicited would not be exactly the thing; but the uncle is willing?”
“Upon the conditions I said; but his niece is to know nothing of these conditions: so be cautious when you see her.”